Brush



Jan. 26, 1954 R. w. DAVISON BRUSH Filed April 15, 1949 Patented Jan. 26,1954 UNITED STATES 9ATENT OFFICE BRUSH Roy W. Davison, Chicago, 111.

Application April 13, 1949, Serial No. 87,265

4 Claims. (01. 15-137) My invention relates to toilet articles andincludes among its objects and advantages the provision of a shavingbrush with shaving cream stored in the handle that will be sufiicientlyeffective, sanitary, and convenient to use, to survive continued use.Brushes of this type have been proposed and patented and actually put onthe market repeatedly for at least the last 50 years, but to the best ofmy knowledge, not one has remained permanently on the market, and thesubstantially universal practice is to keep the paste in a collapsibletube and use the tube to apply paste to a separate brush at the time ofshaving.

I believe this failure to result from the fact that prior art deviceshave been fatally lacking in one or more of several respects. First, theoperation of the device at the time of shaving must be a simple, normalmovement not requiring great precision or nicety. Second, the frictionor other resistance to the movement for expelling the paste must bereliably kept within definite limits. If, after a protracted period ofservice, the device slips or sticks, the erratic operation resultingwill soon result in dissatisfaction and discard. Third, the paste mustremain uncontaminated, either by the other materials it contacts or byoxidation, and especially by non-homogeneous intermixing of old and newpaste. Fourth, the filling and refilling must be reasonably simple andeasy to do without wasting the paste or soiling the hands or othertoilet articles. Finally, the operation must be reasonably fool-proofthroughout, so that the absentminded or curious user does not injure thedevice by incorrect manipulation.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of a fountain brush in its casing;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a detail section on line 44 of Figure 2. I

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, theplastic barrel has an internal diameter of about 1.45 inches and a wallthickness about 0.065 inch. The bottom I2 is integral and is axiallyapertured to receive the feed screw M which is inch in diameter andcarries left-hand screw threads, 24 threads per inch. The screw I4 is ofnon-ferrous medium hard aluminum alloy and has a knurled butt [6fastened in the plastic operating cap l8 by molding the cap on thescrew. To secure a light and substantially permanent degree of frictionin the turning of the screw, I provide first a large metallic end platel8 laid in contact with the bottom I2, and a special toggle gripfastening washer 20. The washer 20, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4,has a square centra1 opening to receive the screw M. The threads on thescrew terminate at least a sixteenth of an inch above the point wherethe washer grips the screw. The square opening is defined by inwardlyextending tongues 22 having V-shaped notches in their inner ends, andstruck out of the body of the washer. The body of the washer is slightlyarched up along a line transverse to the tongues 22 so that when it ispushed down into the position shown with a predetermined force, its edgewill bear against the liner l8 sub stantially at the opposite pointsindicated at 24 in Figure 4, and the sharp edges of the tongues 22 willslightly indent and press into the material of the screw. This forms atoggle joint such that any tension exerted on the screw merely jams thetongues harder against the screw. In practice it is impossible todisassemble such an assembly without destruction of one or more of theparts.

The piston comprises a die cast lower plate 26 having a central boss 21with a brass liner 28, and three equally spaced apertures to receive thedownwardly extending rivets 30 formed on the die cast cover plate 32,which has a center aper-" ture at 34 snugly fitting the central boss 21on the'bottom plate 26. The disc 36 is of synthetic rubber about inchthick and is punched with apertures to receive the rivets 30. After theparts are juxtaposed the rivets 30 are swedged on the bottom plate 26 tocomplete the assembly. After the assembly is completed, the assembledpiston is set up and the edge of the washer 36 is ground so that theundistorted diameter of the washer exceeds the inner diameter of thebarrel ID by about 0.010 inch. The contact area of the bottom plate 26terminates short of the wall of the barrel by about the thickness of thewasher and the contact area of the top plate 32 hasa clearance abouttwice as great.

Because of these clearances,when the piston is forced upward to expelthe contents of the barrel its edge bites with substantial force againstthe smooth barrel wall, but because the clearance on the following sideis only the thickness of the washer, there is relatively little fiexureof the projecting edge. However, when the piston has been moved to thetop and isbeing run back down for a refill, there is enough clearancebe-. yond the outer edge of the top plate-32 to allow substantialflexure and a much lighter wiping contact between the washer and thebarrel.

After the parts so far described have all been assembled, I insert abridge ring 38 of the same plastic material as the barrel [9. This ringsets in a rabbet in the upper end of the barrel if! and is permanentlycemented in place with plastic cement. The ring 38 has interior screwthreads 40 to receive co-operating threads on the shank of a nipple 42.The nipple 42 has a shoulder at 44 to limit its movement. The nipplecarries a conventional holding ring 45 having an axial aperture at 48for the exit of paste and a conventional set of hairs or bristles 50constituting the brush proper.

The cap or cover 52 is a barrel of the same inside diameter as thebarrel [0, and its lower open end fits snugly over the bridge ring 38.It differs from the barrel in having its closed end provided with an airvent 54. The upper end 56 of the cap. is also Slightly domeeshaped. Thecurvature of the dome is such that if the device is placed on a flatsupport with the cap lowermost, it will not, tip over, but it will standin a very wobbly way, whereas the flat bottom of the operating head H3providesa much firmer support, to such an extent that the user canreadily tell by the sense of touch which end up he is placing thedevice.

When such a device is new and is first put in service, the piston isscrewed down to the bottom of the barrel and the nipple 42 and brushunscrewed andlaid aside. Then the barrel is filled in any convenientway. In the case of paste purchased in a collapsible tube, the tube canbe held pointed down over the barrel and squeezed, and the barrel canthus be filled quite quickly and substantially completely withcut anyparticular degree, of skill orattention being required. Then the nipplevis replaced and the device. is ready for use.

When the charge in the barrel I1} is nearly exhausted, the washer 3 6comes into abutment with the bridge ring- 38, and the user experiencesan increase in resistance not unlike that experienced; when onecompletes. the winding of; an ordinary pocket watch and the finaltightening of e aius s f he a ch abr p nc e s the, resistance toniovement. When this. happens, the user should screw the piston back tothe bottom and refillthe barrel. It is particulen lyv emphasized thatthere is nothing less he can do. The parts are strong enough so. thatonly a de-.- liberate attempt to smash them, employing. a maximum ctmuscular force, will injure them, bu the us r c nn t s t th s on, u took a it or erfor any action f. di as m lv p t e removal of the. nipple42. for refill purposes.

Because the screw. I4 is left handed, a right handed user naturallygrips. the. barrel H) with his left hand and turns the. operating headin a clockwise. direction, being assisted in gripping the samebysuitable irregularities in the edge of the head [8 as indicated at inFigure. 1. This is the usua and a mpst' inst cti d o in which toturn thehead, but to enable the user to expel the pasteby turning in thisdirection requires that the screw be left-handed.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have accomplishedat leastthe objects specifically stated hereinabove. Tests have demonstratedthat a product according to the invention is substantially immune frombreakage other than intentionalbreakage and that a single. device. canbe refilled scores of times with any. of the com-.

mon pastes employed for shaving, and still not develop any contaminationof the walls of the barrel l0 nor accumulation of material below thepiston to an objectionable extent.

Because the washer 20 ordinarily rotates with respect to the liner I8with relatively light metallic friction contact at a small radius andbecause the head I8 and bottom l2 are formed so that the central boss 60is a few thousandths of an inch below the bottom when the peripheral lip62 is in frictional engagement, with a depressed clearance area 64intervening, the friction encountered is that of lip 62 rubbing on thebottom 12 with a force determined by the force used to push down thewasher 20. Experience indicates that it is possible in mass productionto keep this friction forc within narrow limits and that in eachassembled device, the amount of the friction will remain substantiallyconstant throughout a long period of use.

Others may adapt, the, invention for use under various conditionsofservice byemploying one or more of; the novel features hereindisclosed or equivalents thereof. As at present advised with esp ct tthe a arent scop o my enti I, desire to claim the following subjectmatter:

1 A fountain brush comprising, in combination: a bridge 2 .1 8 ha ng asmooth outer surface in the form of a circular right cylinder, andoppositely facing annular end surfaces in planes normal to the cylinder.axis; the interior surface of said ring being threaded from end to end;an apertured brush structure having a threaded por tion shapedto. f tthe threads of said bridge ring, and an abutment shoulder positioned toengage one end of said bridge ring; cup-shaped cylindrical barrels ofidentical outside diameter; said a r ls. hatn identical. n ide iamet thnde. iameter o id. barr s be n n ermed te between the outside diameter.of said bridge ring; an the insi e iam e of. a bridge r n of saidbarrels having an axially shallow rabbet at its open end fittingtightly-over one end of said bridge ring, permanently cemented thereto;

; the otherof said barrels constituting a cap and a ng a e dim s ned. tobe a. t -s i in t er. he other: nd o ai bridge rin said s m n oned; t bb in of rea e a al di: mension; than the pet tion of said bridge ring Iprojecting; beyond said axially shallow rabbet;

whereby end abutment between said barrels limits the. axial movement ofsaid can when put in p a e; a mea s rl n th co t n of said "barrelthrough said brush structure; said ejecting means being located,- int-llQ barrel which is fastened to said btidge ring 2;. A fountain brushcomprlsing, in combination: a bridge ring having a smooth outer surfacein he m a c rc lar: ight. yl de an onpositely. facing annular end;surfaces in planes normal to the cylinder axis; the interior surface ofsaid; ring being threaded from end to end;- an apertured brush structurehaving a threadedportion shaped to. fit the. threadsv ofsaid. bridgering, nd an abu m nt shoul er Pos t one t engage Q e' n l Q saigbr dsernaz: s= hae s1n in ical barrels; one of said barrelsrhaving -a rabbet atits open end fitting over one. end. of said bridge ring 'and.permanently cemented thereto; the other of said barrels constituting acap and. having a rabbet dimensioned tube. a free-sliding fit over theother end of said. bridge ring.

3, n a f un in. brush. unit. o he; pe comprising a one-piece cylindrioaiba rgel having,- one end: o en and. the classes: a e ht. in. sa

barrel; a piston rod for actuating said piston; said closed barrel endhaving an axial aperture receiving said piston rod, and closed by saidpiston rod; a removable apertured brush structure adapted. to be mountedin the open end of said barrel; the combination of means for removablyreceiving said brush and for retaining said piston Within said barrel,comprising: a cylindrical bridge ring having internal threads and asmooth outer surface; said barrel at its open end having a rabbetfitting and receiving one end of said bridge ring; said bridge ringbeing permanently fastened to said barrel; said brush structure havingan externally threaded portion adapted to be screwed into the threads insaid bridge ring; a shoulder at the end of said threaded portion adaptedto abut said bridge ring and limit the inward movement of said brushstructure; said bridge ring extending radially inward in the plane ofthe base of said rabbet to a radius smaller than the diameter of saidbarrel, whereby said bridge ring prevents the user from removing saidpiston; and a removable cap for housing said brush struc ture When notin use; said cap having the shape of a cylindrical continuation of saidbarrel; said cap having a. rabbet adapted to receive the portion of saidbridge ring projecting beyond said barrel in sliding engagement; saidbarrel end defining a shoulder to abut said cap and limit the axialdownward movement of said can.

4. In a fountain brush unit of the type comprising a one-piececylindrical barrel having one end open and the other closed; a piston insaid barrel; a piston rod for actuating said piston; said closed barrelend having an axial aperture receiving said piston rod, and closed bysaid piston rod; a removable apertured brush structure adapted to bemounted in the open end of said barrel; the combination of means forremovably receiving said brush and for retaining said piston within saidbarrel, comprising: a cylindrical bridge ring having internal threadsand a smooth outer surface; said barrel at its open end having a rabbetfitting and receiving said bridge ring; said bridge ring beingpermanently cemented to said barrel; said brush structure having anexternally threaded portion adapted to be screwed into the threads insaid bridge ring; said bridge ring extending radially inward in theplane of the base of said rabbet to a radius smaller than the diameterof said barrel, whereby said bridge ring prevents the user from removingsaid piston.

ROY W. DAVISON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 567,353 Neuhard 3, 1865 968,186 McCardle et al Aug. 23, 19101,873,669 Smith Aug. 23, 1932 1,891,324 Ferguson Dec. 20, 1932 1,902,859Joseph Mar. 28, 1933 1,936,724 Lupo Nov. 28, 1933 1,946,867 Mathieu eta1 Feb. 13, 1934 1,953,296 Gleeson Apr. 3, 1934 2,310,756 Tinnerman Feb.9, 1943 2,366,942 Tinnerman Jan. 9, 1945 2,369,380 Tinnerman Feb. 13,1945 2,521,928 Mauro Sept. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date278,204 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1927 400,831 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1933

